MERRILLVILLE — A northwestern Indiana community is planning to turn a trash-filled former lumberyard into a new park honoring the region's unions.

Town Councilwoman Carol Miano says Merrillville recently acquired the land after she discovered it was listed on a tax sale. She tells The Times of Munster that the Lake County commissioners were instrumental in taking the land off the tax sale so Merrillville could buy it for the park project.

She says the new park will be called Union Park to honor local unions.

Northwestern Indiana Building and Construction Trades Council business manager Randy Palmateer says the union appreciates the council's decision to recognize local working families. Palmateer says he's excited about the planned park.